The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20120309103031/http://www.metro.co.uk:80/tech/892373-kony-2012-campaign-shedding-light-on-uganda-conflict-a-huge-online-success
 
 
 
By Mark Molloy - 7th March, 2012

KONY 2012: Campaign shedding light on Uganda conflict an online success

An 'international justice' internet campaign by humanitarian group Invisible Children has become a huge online hit, with their KONY 2012 documentary about a little known Ugandan conflict being shared over four million times on Facebook.

Joseph Kony, KONY 2012, Invisible Children The campaign aims to raise awareness about international fugitive Joseph Kony (Picture: YouTube/ InvisibleChildrenInc)

The movement was started to raise awareness about the alleged war crimes committed by Ugandan military group the Lord's Resistance Army under the leadership of Joseph Kony.

Invisible Children aim to make international fugitive Kony famous around the globe, 'not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice'.

VIDEO: Watch the KONY 2012 campaign video here


Kony is wanted on 33 separate criminal charges, including 12 counts of crimes against humanity, following a hearing at the International Criminal Court in 2005.

Other charges include murder, enslavement and rape, while the US has named Kony as one of the world's most wanted terrorists after being on the run for over 26 years.

Joseph Kony A Joseph Kony campaign poster (Picture: Twitter/ @prettypinkprobz)

The militant is believed to have overseen the guerrilla group's abduction of an estimated 66,000 children, forcing them to become child soldiers.

On Wednesday 'KONY 2012' and 'Invisible Children' were trending worldwide on Twitter, with the group's 30-minute documentary being retweeted thousands of time.

Joseph Kony A controversial poster of Joseph Kony posted on Twitter (Picture: Twitter/ @PauliTaumoepeau)

The documentary shows war-torn Uganda through the eyes of Jacob, a former LRA child soldier.

A series of celebrities, including Nicole Richie, Stephen Fry and Rihanna, have tweeted about the subject, with latter writing: '#KONY2012 Spread the word!!!'

The overwhelming interest in the movement, caused the group's website to crash following a huge upsurge in traffic.

Users can sign a petition to support the international effort to arrest Kony at www.invisiblechildren.com

Blog: Should we be scared by the Kony 2012 video snowball effect?


  • to Metro and share on:
  • Photo of LindsayRice
    9:02 PM on 3/8/2012

    LindsayRice

    i think it is good to make youre child aware of the world that is out there i myself have a four year old son.and watchign the video he did not go into any gorey details about the killings but just to try and let his son understand who this "bad man" was. children do need to understand that there are bad people out there, and not everyone is like that little boys father, trying to change the course of the world, by education everyone. so i say high five man, you son has an amazing father to look up 2

  • Photo of HeatherHarrison
    6:44 AM on 3/8/2012

    HeatherHarrison

    Was I the only mom who was disturbed by the narrator's discussions of a "bad man who kidnaps children and makes them kill people" that he had with his four year old son? This just seems really inappropriate. Check out all of my thoughts about it on themommypsychologist.com

  • Photo of CassidyCox
    10:43 PM on 3/7/2012

    CassidyCox

    KONY 12 a fresh new take on it.

    loud-mouse.com/2012/03/07/is-it-weird-that-i-dont-hate-joseph-kony/

  • Photo of AliciaRivera
    9:08 PM on 3/7/2012

    AliciaRivera

    he MUST be stopped Now!

  • Photo of JoujaMaamri
    4:47 PM on 3/7/2012

    JoujaMaamri

    To support the campaign in the UK like the page KONY2012 UK and sign the petition

  • Photo of JoujaMaamri
    4:47 PM on 3/7/2012

    JoujaMaamri

    To support the campaign in the UK like the page KONY2012 UK and sign the petition

  • Photo of AyeishaStormKunis
    4:39 PM on 3/7/2012

    AyeishaStormKunis

    The "KONY 2012 MAKE HIM VISIBLE POSTER" is mine what i created stormkunis.tumblr.com/tagged/myart stormkunis.tumblr.com/tagged/myart
    stormkunis.tumblr.com/tagged/myart

  • Photo of DoublerRodriguez
    3:23 PM on 3/7/2012

    DoublerRodriguez

    facebook.com/pages/Kony2012/263294083750205

  • Photo of EmilyMMMMM
    2:55 PM on 3/7/2012

    EmilyMMMMM

    I think this is a great cause and I don;t agree with the criticism of Kony 2012 regarding how they spend their revenue, as I think that spending money on video projects and getting the message out there is perfectly acceptable for a charity. What I am concerned about is that Kony 2012 support the Ugandan government who are corrupt and themselves responsible for crimes, violence and sexual assault. At first when I watched the Kony video I was blown away and in awe of just how great viral videos can actually be. But please everone, be aware that KONY 2012 has issues too; it is an outdated campaign and has its flaws

  • Photo of XtheOracle
    2:33 PM on 3/7/2012

    XtheOracle

    Sure its a well made film on Kony 2012...you know Ad-olf Hit-ler (This comment was censored: i was told i cannot use this word!!!! so i typed in like this you think this is not propoganda lies on this media page too!???) Hit - ler had a great propoganda campaign by using media to get the masses to unite to support him. Well before you click LIKE and support KONY 2012 please think and research a little. Its a FACT UGANDA has massive amounts of OIL. George SOROS wants this OIL. THE USA wants this OIL. OBAMA came in power with the funding of SOROS. USA TROOPS are in UGANDA NOW! KONY is not in UGANDA NOW!

    SO...remember this: LIBYA was attacked and otherthrown...why? A: OIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    IRAQ: OIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    SYRIA: OIL!!!!!!!!!!
    IRAN: OIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    AFGANISTAN: OIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    OIL is more important than any kids in UGANDA thats what this propoganda is all about nothing else. Not to free kids from KONY but to get the OIL!!!!!!!!!!

  • Photo of DianneWilsonSherrod
    1:56 PM on 3/7/2012

    DianneWilsonSherrod

    Please take the time to watch this....very powerful. Can we really make a difference?

  • Photo of Caitlin26
    1:22 PM on 3/7/2012

    Caitlin26

    I think people need to research into what Invisible Children do, who Kony is and the actual situation NOW in Uganda. We should be concentrating on rehabilitation in Uganda, not the capturing of one person. Invisible children have said that they are also providing rehabilitation and etc (invisiblechildren.com/protectionplan), however, I disagree with how they have concentrated on advertising the capturing of him, instead of the rehabilitation. CApturing one person won't necessarily stop LRA, for example, the killing Osama Bin Laden didn't stop Alkaida.

 Metro Extras

Pouring Pounds
Metro MoneybackUp to 45% cashback & vouchers. £5 free
Holiday Rentals
Holiday RentalsUK and abroad from £20 per night, book now
secretsales.com
Up to 70% offDesigner Fashion, Homeware, Travel & Accessories at Secretsales.com
M&S Hamper
Win a luxury M&S Mother’s Day Hamper!Enter before March 14th to win
Urban Dating
Urban DatingMeet thousands of single professionals online near you
tickets.png
TicketsMusic, sport, theatre, comedy, cinema and more
metro_money.png
Metro MoneyReceive your free Experian credit report
Your not you when your hungry
SnickersPlay the off your game game